Our History

History of Trinity College of Vermont

Photo of Mann Hall
by Gordon Miller

In September of 1925, equipped with unshakable determination and inexhaustible
energy but little else, the Sisters of Mercy opened what was then the
second Catholic college for women in New England. Twenty young woman
settled into a room in Burlington's Mount St. Mary's Academy on Mansfield
Avenue to begin a rigorous academic regimen of Latin, Greek, Religion,
English, French and Mathematics.

By the 1990's, 140 young woman and adult students of diverse backgrounds
studied in undergraduate and graduate programs offered on-campus and
in field sites in six states and Monterrey, Mexico. They studied abroad,
served in challenging internships, worked in innovative community service
programs and lived on- and off-campus with other students from as far
away as Korea and Japan.

The seeds of this modern institution were grounded in its mission as
a small Catholic liberal arts college for woman that:

Respect its heritage and built on the legacy and values of its founders,
the Sisters of Mercy of Vermont

Dedicated itself to educating and empowering women, while encouraging
all students- women and men to lead in building healthy communities
and in promoting social justice

Prepared students to participate fully in a diverse and global society
through challenging career development and professional programs grounded
in the liberal arts.

Trinity extended itself into the community by sponsoring the Waters
Chair Lecture Series and Peace and Justice Lecture Series. These programs
brought renowned scholars to participate in the academic life of the
college and the larger civic community.

Trinity's foundresses succeeded in their mission to establish a truly
remarkable college that offered a cohesive, relevant curriculum that
served the community with a commitment and quality of care all its own.
It is this unique ability to care for and anticipate the changing needs
of each new generation of students, combined with the commitment of
a diverse group of faculty, staff, friends and alumni, that continues
into the future and will be recognized as the "Trinity" way.

History of the Association

As Trinity College of VT was in the process of closing in June of
2001, after 75 years of service, establishing a way to perpetuate the
legacy of the College through its network of alumni and friends was
critical. Through the volunteer efforts of dedicated alums and donations
from the Sisters of Mercy and our founding members, The Trinity College
of Vermont Association of Alumni and Friends (TCVTAAF) was established.

TCVTAAF is a non-profit organization created to capture and carry
on the spirit of Trinity. TCVTAAF exists to serve as a collective voice
of the alumni and friends of Trinity College of Vermont. It is with
your help, through volunteer efforts, and donations, that we are able
to continue this mission and continue to keep the memory of Trinity
College of Vermont alive. We, the Association Board, would like to
thank you for your continued support through your volunteer efforts
and your donations.